Let the voting begin.

Early voting for all municipal races starts Thursday at Rowan Public Library Headquarters, 201 W Fisher St. Polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. on weekdays until Oct. 30. Polls will also be open Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 is the last early voting day for municipal races in Rowan County.

Voting will occur at the library’s entrance off Church Street, across from First United Methodist Church. Ballots for all municipal races will be available at the Rowan Public Library Headquarters during early voting.

As of Monday, same day registration will be allowed during early voting. A pending court case in Winston Salem over voting rights could change whether same-day registration is allowed during municipal races.

In the Kannapolis City Council race, only those who live in Rowan County will be allowed to participate in early voting at the library. City of Kannapolis voters in Cabarrus County will go to the board of elections — 369 Church Street North in Concord.

Absentee voting is already under way. The last day to request an absentee application is Oct. 27, and they must be postmarked by Nov. 3 to be counted.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Polls on election day will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Only registered voters who live inside of a municipality’s limits are allowed to participate in the 2015 elections.

The Salisbury City Council race, by far, has the most significant margin of candidates to open seats. It’s the largest in the history of the Salisbury City Council — 16 total candidates — according to Rowan County records.

Spencer’s mayoral race is also hotly contested. Incumbent Jody Everhart chose not to seek re-election. Three people, including two current town board members, are vying for Everhart’s spot.

East Spencer Mayor Barbara Mallet will face a challenge from two community members.

Both Landis and China Grove will have new mayors as incumbents chose not to file for re-election.

Candidates for Salisbury City Council (five open seats) include:

• Incumbents: Karen Alexander, Maggie Blackwell, Brian Miller;

• Challengers: Stephen Arthur, Roy Bentley, Ken Hardin, Constance Johnson, Rip Kersey, Mark Lewis, Scott Maddox, Todd Paris, David Post, William Peoples, Troy Russell, Tamara Sheffield, Jeff Watkins.

Candidates for China Grove Mayor include:

• Challenger: Lee Withers.

Candidates for China Grove Town Council (two open seats) include:

• Incumbent: Steve Stroud;

• Challengers: Donnie Herring, Rodney Phillips.

Candidates for Cleveland Mayor include:

• Incumbent: Danny Gabriel.

Candidates for Cleveland Commissioners (two open seats) include:

• Incumbent: John Bradford;

• Challengers: Travis Summitt, Gregory Summitt.

Candidates for East Spencer Mayor include:

• Incumbent: Barbara Mallett;

• Challengers: Rhonda Kerns, Brint Polk.

Candidates for East Spencer Aldermen (three open seats) include:

• Incumbents: John Noble III, Curtis Cowan;

• Challengers: Benita Tulloch, Deloris High.

Candidates for Faith Aldermen (five open seats) include:

• Incumbents: Gary Gardner, Matt Lyerly, CJ Moody;

• Challengers: Brian Campbell, Mike Hibler.

Candidates for Granite Quarry Mayor include:

• Incumbent: Bill Feather.

Candidates for Granite Quarry Aldermen (two open seats) include:

• Incumbent: Jim LaFevers;

• Challenger: Jim Costantino.

Candidates for Kannapolis City Council (three open seats) include:

• Incumbents: Ryan Dayvault, Roger Haas, Tom Kincaid;

• Challengers: Dennis Johnson, Randy Keller, Amos McClorey Sr., Violet Mitchell.

Candidates for Landis Mayor include:

• Challengers: Dennis Brown, Mike Mahaley.

Candidates for Landis Aldermen (two open seats) include:

• Incumbents: Tony Hilton, Roger Safrit;

• Challengers: Tommy Garver, Seth Moore.

Candidates for Rockwell Mayor include:

• Incumbent: Beau Taylor.

Candidates for Rockwell Aldermen (five open seats) include:

• Incumbents: Chuck Bowman, Bill Earnhardt, Bobby Moore, Chris Stiller, Charles Wingerson;

• Challengers: Lori Bridges, Sondra Merrifield, Stephenie Walker.

Candidates for Spencer Mayor include:

• Challengers: Scott Benfield, Jim Gobbel, Bob Oswald.

Candidates for Spencer Aldermen (six open seats) include:

• Incumbents: Kevin Jones, James M. Boone;

• Challengers: Sylvia Chillcott, David Lamanno, Rashid Muhammad, David Smith, Howard White.

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to state same-day registration is allowed during early voting for municipal races. 

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246